A 78-Year-Old Man with End-Stage Esophageal Cancer Is Admitted to the Hospital

A 78-year-old man with end-stage esophageal cancer is admitted to the hospital because he is very malnourished and failing to thrive. According to the patient's caregiver, he has been unable to eat or drink for the past three weeks. During that time, his weight plummeted from 72.6 kg (160 lb) to 63.5 kg (140 lb) . His cancer has progressed to his lungs and liver. The patient does not want any further cancer therapy and states that he does not want any heroic measures or interventions to keep him alive. His doctor is thinking of referring him to hospice care. Which of the following is not a prerequisite for sending a patient to hospice care?

A) Patient has a diagnosis of end-stage cancer
B) Patient has a do-not-resuscitate order
C) Patient has decision-making capacity
D) Patient has a prognosis of < 6 months
E) Patient has a prognosis of < 3 months

Correct Answer:

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